Although this kayak was allegedly designed to be an entry level fishing kayak. It actually ranks with many intermediate and advanced level fishing kayaks in cost.

What to Consider when Buying a Fishing Kayak

Choosing the best kayak takes quite a bit of consideration because you will be making an investment not only in cash but in your future fishing outings. Making the right choice depends on being able to cross off the list of criteria.

When you start the comparisons you want to keep these points in mind to ensure that you are making a choice that is well suited to your personal needs:

The Jackson Kayaks Cruise 10 Angler Kayak Review

The Jackson Kayaks Cruise 10 Angler fishing kayak is one of the most popular kayaks that Jackson has released and fans are going wild over the great balance between stability and maneuverability and good dry storage facilities.

If you have been thinking about this kayak but are still on the fence about making the choice, this review can help you to make your decision.

Read on to find out if the Jackson Kayaks Cruise 10 Angler is the right choice for you as we discuss the features and where we think they can improve on Jackson’s latest model. Every angler has their own wants when it comes to the ideal kayak but this review will help to shed some light on whether your wants can be met with this model.

Specifications

Pros

Cons

Size and Weight

The Jackson Kayaks Cruise 10 Angler has an overall capacity of 300 pounds so should be suitable for the average sized angler with the average load of equipment. The designers have been really clever in developing a longer length kayak that comes in at 10 feet and 3 inches but does not lose anything in the way of stability.

The balance between stability and maneuverability is very good although it may be suited to experienced kayakers rather than those just starting out. Due to the length of this kayak, it will not hit high speeds and the considerably lower speed will suit those who are new to kayak fishing or those who like a slower pace of fishing.

Coming in at 58 pounds it is relatively light compared to some other fishing kayaks, so those who are not very strong should not struggle to manage the kayak easily. We would say that you may need help moving the kayak any significant distance or when tying to your roof, but generally, you should be okay.

Design

A lot of thought has gone into this model as it is not as sparse as some of the kayaks that you see on the market in this price bracket. Designed as an entry level fishing kayak, there are not a huge number of features to shout about, but it does the job in hand and a very good one at that. Despite the brand’s claim that this is an entry level kayak, we see many features that experienced kayakers will like too.

We really like the design of the hull on this Jackson Kayaks Cruise 10 Angler and you can fish in large rivers, bays, etc with ease. The speed is reasonably impressive and you can maneuver well despite the length, so, all in all, it is a pretty good kayak.

The Jackson Cruise Fishing Kayak features a sit-inside hull design that keeps anglers dry and clean bad weather hits, which is quite often if you are a long-standing angler! Without a doubt, the highlight of this kayak is the fantastic ‘Elite’ seating system that has been creatively designed.

The seating is very durable and is made mostly out of aluminum. You can adjust the seat to suit your fishing needs and can change it back to the standard seating position when paddling. This is one of the comfiest seats that we have ever tried and the great back support means that you can paddle for hours without becoming uncomfortable.

The fact that you can adjust the poor braces is also a massive tick in the box for larger anglers who become frustrated by standard braces and seats.

The cockpit is reasonably large compared to standard kayaks and has foot pegs that can be customized to suit your needs. The foot pegs have used padding to increase comfort levels and you should not feel any pressure even after long periods of gliding through the water.

The Jackson Kayaks Cruise 10 Angler is almost the perfect fishing kayak for beginners as it offers many basic features and looks great on the water, so you don’t stand out as being the newest angler on the water.

Features

It is also nice to have a kayak that looks good but of course, looks only get you so far. Some of the features you may not think of as being huge selling points, but the details really do matter. For example, the adjustable foot braces are a nice touch because they allow for a more custom fit. This is especially important if you are on the tall side and want a few more inches.

One aspect of the kayak that we are not a fan of is the molding of the footwell. The console between the wells and the day hatch leave little room to move about and there is not enough room to move once you stand up in the kayak. We are a little disappointed by this as a few simple design tweaks could have alleviated this problem. If we could have the console but no obstructions then we would be very happy anglers.

On the other hand, the console is removable but, then you are deprived of its valuable storage space. Plus, the center console also serves as the hatch cover for the in-hull rod storage space which is why is so long; it has to seal a long enough hatch to enable you to easily insert and remove your rods.

Another feature that we really like is the stand-assist strap, which is something that is annoyingly lacking in some kayaks. This small, but very important, the addition will give new kayaks the confidence they need when out paddling.

Overall, despite this being an entry-level kayak it is far from being basic and you do get good value for money with this Jackson model.

Summary

Overall, we love the blend of good movement and stability and even though this kayak may not be as fast as some people would like, we think that it hits reasonably good speeds to suit entry-level anglers. If you want a super comfortable kayak that travels at medium speed then the Cruise 10 angler is an excellent choice for you.

There is good dry storage space on this kayak, which some other Jackson models do not have, so may appeal to Jackson fans who have avoided buying their other kayaks due to this issue. The main problem for us is the console and the lack of standing room, which you should not really expect for the price that you will pay for this kayak.

This kayak will be most suited to calmer water, such as lakes and it is a great starting point for those easy to become confident in kayak fishing. We are very impressed with how kayak have designed a kayak that will appeal to so many people and that will last for a long time due to the high-quality materials used to build it.